Clamp for concrete forms



June 18, 1929. j GlLMAN 1,717,446

CLAMP F'OR CONCRETE FORMS Filed Dec. 1, 1927 E! nuc nfoz I04. Gilm lv fig 164 wmw Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES,

JOHN A. GILMAN, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CLAMP ron concentr c Forms. 7

Application filed December 1 192'7. Serial No. 237,023.

, The invention relates to means for securing the members of concrete forms against separation while in use and is intended more particularly for application to forms for molding concrete or reinforced concrete columns. The object oftheiinvention is to provide inexpensive and highly efficient devices whereby a cableor other flexible securing element may be securely tightened around the form so as to resist all tendency ofthe formed members to separate under the strain imposed thereon. Another object of the invention is and released after it has been secured. These stated objects, and other objects which will incidentally appear in the course of the following description, are attained in such a device asis illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing: 7 b Figure 1 is a top plan View of my improved clamp in operative position; i i b Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clamp as it appears before the cableis connected therewith; I f

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the clamp, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the cable gripper and stretching device withthe cable in section so as to illustrate the position of the same relative to the gripper when the device is in use. I

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a portion of a concrete form which, in this instance, is polygonal and may, of

course, be of any many-sided contour. The device ofmy invention includes a base plate 2 which has a fiat face adapted to bear against a flat side of the form, as indicated in Fig. 1, and at one end is formed with a notch 3 to accommodate the anchoring end of the cable or other flexible element 4:. Upon the outer side of the base 2 adjacent the notched end thereof is a substantially triangular boss 5 having openings 6, 7 and 8 formed jtherethrough in triangular relation, the opening 6 being disposed on the central longitudinal cumstances may requ'ire or suggesti through the jaw in adjusting the device. The

line of the base and communicating, with the notch throughachannel, indicated at 9, H1 the inner or supporting sideof the base, as Wlll be understood. The. openings 7 and "8 are disposed at opposite sides of the central longitudinal line of the base and in transverse PATENT OF E- I I alinement and are connected in the supp rt: a

ing sideof thebase achannel, indicated at 10. The boss 5 terminates short of the notched endof the base whereby projecting ledges'll are producedand a wa1l12 isde fined by the end of the boss at a right angle to the ledges 11 and transverse to thebasey From the wall 12, a lug 13 projects in alline-' ment with'the notch 3, as clearly shown in Fig. '2. In attaching the cable'to the base member, the endlof the cable is" inserted through the openingfi from the inner to-Jthe outer side of the base so that the tree portion 7 ,of'the cable will restin the channel 9'and ex tend through the notch 3,-as will be understood uponreference to Fig. '1. The end of the cable is then passed through the opening 7 across the base within the channel 10 and then outwardly through the openingS so that the extremity of the cable may pass through the bight' formed at 1 1 and be firmly held to thebase by drawing the bight tightly over the proj'ectingextremity. This will be un derstood upon reference toFig'l, and it will be noted that the end of the cable is knotted 'or'tied about the base so that it will be firmly held and cannot 'beaccidentally detached tionary jaw 15 which is preferably'formed integral with the base and has a' lateral portherefrom} Extending from the boss 5 to a V the opposite end'o'f the base plate 2 is a "station 16 which constitutes a guide and support I "for the movable jaw 17, the two jaws being provided in their opposed iaceswith grooves 18 arranged to' receive the free end of the cable 1, as shown in Fig. 1. In the illustrated embodiment of the-invention, the grooves 18 I are disposed at an angle to the base plate corresponding to the angular relationlof the sides of the form,"but it will be understood that the particular inclination or angular disposition of the grooves may be variedas e jaws 15 and 17 have alined openings formed therethrouglrto receive a bolt 19 andthe opening in the'jaw 15 is internally threaded I so that it may be engaged by the threadspof the bolt and permit the bolt to move endwise head of the bolt, shown at 20, bears against the outer side of. the movable jaw 17 .and the end of the bolt is upset or flanged, as indicated at21, after the bolt has been fitted through the jaws; so that; themovement of the bolt will be limited and complete separation with consequent loss ofthe parts will 7 be prevented.

elementhasbeen passedaround theform, its

free end is engaged by a gripping and stretch mg member consisting of a jointed lever having a fulcrum member 22'and a handle member 23. These members of the lever are p1v otally connected, by a bolt or like device 24, the said pivotelement being inserted transversely through an offset or perforated lug V, 25formedonthefulcrum member 22 and a 7' perforated car 26 formed on the end of the handlemembe'r and fitting within a notch 27 formed in the lug 25,'asshown clearly in Fig. .4, theear 26 being .ofiset fromthe handle member so that, if the handle member: be

rocked about the pivot 24: in one direction, it n will release the cable, as indicated by the dot ted lines in Fig. 1,whereas, if it be rocked V inthe opposite direction, it will grip the cable, as shown in fulli'lines in Fig. 1. The

.lhandle member 23 is formed with aflateral gripping shoulder 28', preferably provided with a notch 29-to fit around and grip the cable, while the fulcrmnmember is provided with a corresponding groove or recess. 30for a like purpose, as will be understood upon reference to Fig.4, it being noted upon refer- 'enceto Fig. 'l-that the opposed surfaces of W the handle and fulcrum members provide straight jaws or gripping surfaces. to engage the opposite sides of thecableso that the'free end thereof will bejfirmly held by and be- I tween the twomeinbers, of the lever when the i latter is being manipulated to put the cable under tensionr Upontheyfree end ofrthe pivot bolt 24 is mounted a nut 31 and a washer 32, and between thewasherfand the fulcrum memberof the lever a spacer sleeveor collar 33is fitted uponthe bolt, so that the nutmay be turned hometo firmly retain the pivot'bolt V in its position in the lever but at the same Q the coils .34. of a. spring which has its .ends

timespace will be provided to accommodate 35 attached-to the handle and fulcrum memn hers: respectively of the lever. The spring tends constantly to hold the gripping elements closed upon the cable. At the free end of the fulcrum member, there is a notch 36 whereby the fulcrum'member may "span the lug 13 and the portion of the cable which 7 passes "through the notch 3 of the base, and I theends of'the fulcrum member "at the sides of said notch are formed into arcuate knobs 3 or rocker-s 37' which are adapted to rest. upon r the ledgesll and against the shoulder 12, as shown in ,Fig. 1,;while' the' lever is being rockedto'stretch the cable. The lug 13 acts as a retainer to prevent the lever slipping transversely of the base while being rocked. It

ble, after being passed around the form, may

be passed between the jaws in position to'fit within and be engaged by the grooves 18 after. V r .i it has been drawn taut. The base 2, of course, 'After the cable or other flexible binding 1 position shown in dotted lines to separate the gripping surfaces. If the handle bethen released, the spring will close the opposed surfaces 25 and 28 upon the cablewith sufficient force to maintain the engagement. The lever is then swung rearwardly and the cable will be firmly gripped in the notches 29 and 30 and placed under tension, and the. operator may maintain his hold upon the lever until the jaw 17 can be moved intobind ng en .gagementwith the cable by rotation of the bolt'19. If the lever be swungforwardunder light force, thegrippers will slide along the cable, without being released, to a new gripping position, andthe operator may thus obtain what maybe described as'a toothless ratchet action. It will be noted that the bolt-- l9rwhen rotated will move endwise through the jawi15 and as the head'of the bolt is in contact with the side'of the jaw 17: the rotation of the boltin one direction will cause the latter jaw to move toward the jaw 15 and thereby firmly clamp the cable between the two jaws. The lever may then be withdrawn and operated in connection with a second clamp so as to secure asecond' cable about the form and the cables will be held by the clamps until released by applying a reverse movement to theseveral bolts19; -.The tension of the cables will hold the several bases 2 firmly against the concrete forms withoutre quiring the clamps to be nailed or otherwise positively fastened to the form and, therefore, there will be no difficulty experienced in withdrawing the clamps and the cables after the concrete has set. The device is exceedingly simple inconstruction and isihighly efficient in operation. j

It will be understood that in commercial practice, the devi'ceomay be a'rrangedto suit the convenience of right or left-handed operatom and that various changes maybe made in the form, proportions or minordetails, the drawings being illustrative only. 'Having thus described the invention, I claim: 'i

1. Means for the prising a base'member constructed at one end H with openings therethrough in substantially triangular relation to receive an anchoring purpose set forth come end of a flexible securing element, and means mounted on the opposite end of'the base to secure the free end of the flexible element.

2. Means for the purpose set forth comprising a base member constructed at oneend with a longitudinally extending channel and having openings formed therethrough in substantially triangular relation, jaws mounted upon the opposite end of the base member, and means for effecting relative movement of the'jaws whereby they may be caused to clamp thefree end of a flexible element, the opposite end of said element being disposed within the channel and threaded through said openings whereby to be anchored to the base member.

3. Means for the purpose set forth comprising a base plate,means at one end of the base plate whereby an end of a flexible element may be anchored, a jaw fixed to the opposite end of the base plate, a movable jaw arranged to cooperate with the fixed jaw whereby the free end of the flexible element may be engaged and secured; and a bolt threaded throughthe fixed jaw and passing loosely through the movable jaw and having its head bearing against the outer side of the movable jaw and its end provided with a stop member beyond theouter side of the. fixed aw.

4:. Means for the purpose set forth comprising a base plate constructed at one end to anchor an end of a flexible element, clamping jaws mounted at the opposite end of the base plate to receive and secure the free end of the flexible element, a ledge at the first-mentioned end of the base plate, a shoulder projecting from said ledge, and a lever con structed to grip the free end of the flexible element and adapted to rest against said ledge and bear against said shoulder whereby to rock thereon to tension the flexible element.

5. Means for the purpose set forth comprising a base plate, a rest at one end of the base plate, a lug projecting longitudinally from said rest, aws at the opposite end of the base plate adapted to engage and secure the free end of a flexible element which has its opposite end anchored to the base plate at the rest thereon, and a lever provided at one end with a notch to span said lug, and rockers to fulcrum upon the rest on the base plate, the lever being constructed between its ends to grip the free end of the flexible element beyond the jaws. j j

6. Means for the purpose set. forth comprising a base plate, jaws at one end of the base plate to secure the end of a flexible'element which is anchored to the opposite end of the base plate, a gripping lever comprising 0 a handle member, and a fulcrum member each having an oflsetand provided adj acent the offset with jaws adapted to engage the flexible element beyond the jaws on the base 7 plate, a pivot member inserted through the '55 offsets of the levermembers, and a'spring' coiled around the pivot member-and having its ends attached to the members of the lever.

7. Means for the purpose set forth comprising means for anchoring one'end of a cable, means for securing the free end of the cable after it has been put under tension, and a tensioning device consisting of pivotally connected members having opposed gripping surfaces and means for yieldably holdingthe gripping surfaces in engagement with the cable. I

8. Means for the purpose set forth com-* prising a base, means at one end of the base to anchor a flexible element, and devicesfat the opposite end of the base movable in rectilinear paths diametric to the flexible element f whereby to clamp the flexible element without sliding thereon. l 9. Means for the purpose set'forthcomprising a base, means at one end of the base to anchor a flexible element, devices at the opposite end of the base movable in rectilinear paths diametric to the flexihle'element whereby to clamp said element without'slid- 9 ing thereon, and means operable on the base for applying tension to the flexible element.

10. In a device for the purpose set forth, a tensioning lever consistingof a handle member, and a fulcrum member provided with on sets at their meeting ends, a pivot inserted through the offsets, and lateral gripping shoulders on said members. I I

11. In a device for the purpose set forth, a I tensioning lever consisting of a handle mem- 1 her, and a fulcrum member provided with offsets at their meeting ends, a pivot inserted through the offsets, lateral gripping shoulders on said members adjacent the offsets, and means engaged with said members for 105 yieldably holding the grippingshoulders in engagement with an element to be tensioned.

12. In means for the purpose set forth, a tensioninglever comprising a handle member, and a fulcrum member each having an offset and provided adjacent the offsetwith' jaws adapted to engage a flexible element, a pivot member inserted through the offsets, and a spring coiled around the pivot member and having its ends attached to the members of the lever.

In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature.

JOHN A. GILMAN. [its] 

